A. INTRODUCTION: DESCRIPTION OF HELL
1. Hell is the strongest expletive, i.e., curse word.
2. Wrong thinking, hell is at the center of the earth.
3. Ruled over by devil with horns, pitch fork, red suit with tail.
4. There is no intermediate state, go straight to hell at death.
5. Hell is a place of torment; it is not the devil’s playground.
6. God could not be just if he made laws and didn’t punish lawbreakers.
7. God could not be considered truthful if He didn’t warn people of hell.
8. God could not be love if He didn’t prepare an escape for people.
“And I saw the Great White Judgment throne and God sitting on it, and people wanted to run from it, but there was no place to hide. All the unsaved dead stood before God, the powerful and the common person. Then the Lamb’s Book of Life was opened and when anyone’s name was not found written there, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire that burns forever and ever. And the Book of Works was opened, and all were judged according to their works that determined the severity of their punishment. The seas gave up their dead, as well as every grave; even those in hell were brought to be judged. Then all were thrown into the Lake of Fire which is the second death” (Rev. 20:11-15, ELT).
1. If no future punishment for the wicked, there will be no reward for the righteous.
2. The existence of law demands there is a place to deal with consequences.
3. To deny hell is to deny the integrity of Jesus and His redemptive work. The “black holes” of space demonstrate the possibility of an eternal, black, burning “sea” of gas.
“The rich man died and was buried, and his soul went to hell and he was in torment. He looked up and saw Abraham . . . he shouted, ‘Father Abraham have mercy on me, send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames’” (Luke 16:22-24, ELT).
B. WHAT WILL BE FOUND IN HELL?
1. Hell has a one-way window, can see out but not see in. “In torment he looked up and saw Abraham” (Luke 16:22). Part of hell is seeing reward of the righteous, but not enjoying it.
2. A portrait of Jesus on the wall. Is this a “picture,” or is Jesus there in His omnipresence (being present everywhere at the same time)? “If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there” (Ps. 139:8). “Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne” (Rev. 6:16).
3. No electricity, no light switches. “For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13). “Outer darkness” (Matt. 25:30; 22:13). The flames are dark and give no light, only heat. One ancient described, “Scandalized by darkness,” i.e., darkness is terrifying.
4. Some preachers are there. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matt. 7:22-23). They denied the truth that was taught them, they rejected the truth they preached.
5. A bottomless elevator shaft. Hell is described as a pit where people “will descend into the abyss?” (Rom. 10:7). “He opened the bottomless pit and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great fire” (Rev. 9:1-2).
6. Solitary confinement. People expect a great drinking party, i.e., revelry. Note the opposing principles: most do not sin alone, but seek companionship, i.e., Eve, the prodigal son, Ananias and Sapphira, etc. Yet hell is a solitary place, “outer darkness” (Matt. 8:12, 22:13, 25:30).
7. No medicine cabinet with pain relievers. “I am in anguish” (Luke 16:24, NLT). “A place of torment” (Luke 16:27).
8. A sickening helplessness from excessive addiction. “My sin is my punishment; it is greater than I can deal with” (Gen. 4:13, ELT).
9. A lot of cussing going on. No one begging for God’s mercy, nor do they repent. “They blaspheme the name of God” (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21).
a. In heaven we will be frozen in righteousness. We will not be tempted; we will be able to do positive things continually because we chose to do them on earth.
b. In hell, they are frozen in evil. Continually they will think evil thoughts and rebel against God.
10. A continual morning hangover. “In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torment” (Luke 16:23, KJV).
11. Constant comparison of themselves to people in heaven. “Send Lazarus” (Luke 16:24).
12. Imprisoned by a big valley. “A great chasm separating us” (Luke 16:26).
13. No thermostat. “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire” (Matt. 25:14). “Cast into the Lake of Fire” (Rev. 20:14-15).
14. Run out of calendars. “Tormented day and night, forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10; Matt. 25:4, 46).
15. A worm infested garbage dump. “Jesus said, ‘Go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched, where the worm does not die’” (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).
a. Based on integrity of Jesus.
b. The worms are in them not around them.
16. No Alzheimer’s. People will not forget they had rejected Christ and suffer because of their unbelief.
17. No crocodile tears, i.e., hypocritical repentance. They may be sorry they got caught, but not sorry they sinned. Those in hell are frozen in evil.
18. Missing faces. There are some that many people think will be in hell, but they will be saved “The Lord said to satan, ‘The Lord rebuke thee . . . a brand plucked out of the burning’” (Zech. 3:2).
19. God is mad at you. “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Rom. 1:18, NLT).
20. No exits. There are no second chances, no relief, and no escapes.
“I am the way into the city of woe,
I am the way of a forsaken people,
I am the way into eternal sorrow,
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”
~Dante’s Inferno
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
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Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
